There was one customer in the store at the time of the robbery. The customer left the store before police arrived and police say they hope to speak with the man, who could prove to be a valuable witness.

It was unclear why the potential witness left the store before speaking with police.

"We actually have a pretty good surveillance picture of the suspect," Day said. "We are hoping someone recognizes him by his clothes."

Day said the robber faces serious felony charges if he is apprehended.

"The fact that he had a gun ramps it up for us," Day said. "We are working hard to find him."

The man could be charged with first-degree robbery, which is a Measure 11 crime carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years, 6 months in prison.

Day said the man could face additional charges after an investigation is completed.

One of the questions detectives will ask is whether the gun was real or a fake. Day said investigators will work on the assumption that the gun was real until the man is apprehended.

"It's a dangerous situation either way," Day said.

The store was the site of a armed robbery in July 2008. In that case the suspect entered the store and pointed a handgun at the clerks before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.

That suspect was arrested by Central Point detectives after a Crime Stoppers tip.

Authorities ask anyone with information about the robbery or the identity of the unidentified store customer to call Central Point Detective Lou Fulmer at 541-664-5578.